Instrument for performing liposuction

ABSTRACT

An instrument for performing liposuction is provided with a longitudinally extended rod-shaped part ( 2 ) that, at its rear end, has a handle ( 3 ) and a front end piece ( 4 ) for partially introducing the rod-shaped part ( 2 ) under the skin at the site to be treated. The rod-shaped part ( 2 ) is, at least over a portion of its length, provided with a roughened surface ( 5 ). This enables the rod-shaped part to be partially introduced under the skin at the site that has already been treated with the suction instrument. At this location, the rod-shaped part can, with its roughened surface, simultaneously distribute the remaining fatty layer remnants or to remove these remnants from the remaining tissue by means of a to-and-fro movement in the longitudinal direction.

The invention concerns an instrument for performing liposuction with an elongated, rod-like part.

Liposuction, i.e. the suctioning of fat is a medical process that is often practised today. A means for carrying out such a process is for example described in EP-B-O 458 989. This means incorporates a suction pipe that can be inserted under the skin into the fat layer that is to be removed. The main problem with this suctioning of fat is that the fat layer is often removed unevenly, whereby the irregularities are then noticeable on the skin surface in a way that is not aesthetically pleasing.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide an instrument of the type mentioned above which will enable an evening out of irregularities created during fat suctioning on the one hand, and which will counteract the problem of excess loose skin following liposuction on the other.

This task is solved in accordance with the invention by an instrument where the elongated, rod-like part is equipped with a handle at its rear end, and with a front end for partial inserting of the rod-like part under the skin to the location that is to be treated, whereby the rod-like part incorporates a roughened surface along at least one part of its length.

Further preferred embodiments of the instrument of this invention form the subject of the dependent claims.

The instrument of this invention can be used alternately together with a suction instrument during liposuction, whereby its elongated, rod-like part is partially inserted under the skin to the location that has already been treated with the suction instrument in order to evenly distribute the remaining fat layer residual with a reciprocal movement of its roughened surface in a longitudinal direction, or to loosen the same from the underlying tissue, so that the same can then once more be removed with the suction instrument. In addition the problem of excess loose skin following liposuction is counteracted in that the skin is tightened by means of mechanical induction of a fine, contracting tissue layer.

With an especially preferred embodiment the rod-like part consists of elastically bendable stainless steel which allows an adjustment of the rod-like part to fit the body parts that are to be treated as well as an especially advantageous, simple handling.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, whereby:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of an instrument of the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows an overview of the instrument illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an instrument 1 to be used for liposuction which incorporates an elongated, rod-like part 2, which is equipped with a handle 3 at its rear end. The cross-section of the rod-like part 2 is preferably round, but could for example also have a cross-section incorporating oval or rounded edges. The rod-like part 2 is equipped with an end piece 4 at its front end, incorporating one upper surface 4 a as well as one lower surface 4 b, which meet to form a front edge 4 c. The front edge 4c is rounded in its cross-section (see FIG. 1) as well as its expansion (see FIG. 2).

Whilst the handle 3 is preferably made of plastic the rod-like part 2 is preferably constructed from an elastically bendable stainless steel. Thanks to this elastic bendability the shape of the instrument 1, i.e. of the part 2 can be changed (by hand), as indicated by means of the broken line in FIG. 1. In a front area adjoining the front end piece 4 the rod-shaped part 2 incorporates a roughened surface 5 which can for example be produced by cutting or milling (the roughened surface could also extend further towards the back, or several roughened surfaces could be located one behind the other). The end surfaces 4 a, 4 b are however not roughened (and neither is the edge 4 c).

The handle 3 is equipped with a reference surface 6 extending parallel with the front edge 4 c of the end piece 4.

The end piece 4 and a part of the rod-shaped part 2 of the instrument 1 of the invention can be inserted under the skin at the location that is to be treated almost parallel with the skin surface and moved backwards and forwards there in a longitudinal direction in order to treat the fat layer with the roughened surface 5 and to separate the same from the underlying tissue. For this the instrument 1 is held in such a way that the front edge 4 c (and when part 2 is not bent, also the reference surface 6) extend almost parallel with the skin surface.

During liposuction the instrument 1 is used alternately as an auxiliary instrument with a known suction instrument, whereby the fat layer is normally suctioned off first, and any remaining fat layer residual removed with the instrument 1 of this invention from the underlying tissue and irregularities rubbed off in a sense, whereafter the fat is once more removed with the suction instrument. Thanks to the shape of the front end piece 4 with its rounded edge 4 c, i.e. without sharp edges and corners, skin and tissue damage is prevented.

A rod-shaped part 2 consisting of an elastically bendable material allows adjustment of the rod shape to suit the body part that is to be treated, so that an especially favourable, simple handling is possible.

In theory it would be possible to position the roughened surface for removing irregularities created during fat suctioning directly onto an elongated suction instrument in the form of a hollow rod that can be inserted under the skin. 

1-8. (canceled)
 9. Instrument for liposuction with an elongated, rod-shaped part (2), wherein the elongated, rod-shaped part (2) is equipped with a handle (3) at its rear end and incorporates a front end piece (4) for partial insertion of the rod-shaped part (2) under the skin of the location that is to be treated, whereby the rod-shaped part (2) incorporates a roughened surface (5) at least along parts of its length.
 10. Instrument according to claim 9, wherein the rod-shaped part (2) consists of an elastically bendable stainless steel and can be elastically bent by hand.
 11. Instrument according to claim 9, wherein the rod-shaped part (2) is equipped with a front area incorporating the roughened surface (5) adjoining the front end piece (4).
 12. Instrument according to claim 9, wherein the front end piece (4) incorporates an upper as well as lower surface (4 a, 4 b) which meet to form a front edge (4 c), whereby the cross-section as well as the expansion of the edge (4 c) is rounded.
 13. Instrument according to claim 12, wherein the handle (3) is equipped with a reference surface (6) which extends parallel with the front edge (4 c).
 14. Instrument according to claim 12, wherein the rod-shaped part (2) can be inserted under the skin almost parallel with the skin surface and with the front piece edge (4 c) also almost parallel to the skin surface, and can be moved backwards and forwards in a longitudinal direction.
 15. Instrument according to claim 14, wherein the instrument (1) can be inserted under the skin alternately with a suction instrument.
 16. Instrument according to claim 9, wherein the rod-shaped part (2) incorporates a round, oval, or rounded edge cross-section.
 17. Instrument according to claim 10, wherein the rod-shaped part (2) is equipped with a front area incorporating the roughened surface (5) adjoining the front end piece (4).
 18. Instrument according to claim 10, wherein the front end piece (4) incorporates an upper as well as lower surface (4 a, 4 b) which meet to form a front edge (4 c), whereby the cross-section as well as the expansion of the edge (4 c) is rounded.
 19. Instrument according to claim 11, wherein the front end piece (4) incorporates an upper as well as lower surface (4 a, 4 b) which meet to form a front edge (4 c), whereby the cross-section as well as the expansion of the edge (4 c) is rounded.
 20. Instrument according to claim 13, wherein the rod-shaped part (2) can be inserted under the skin almost parallel with the skin surface and with the front piece edge (4 c) also almost parallel to the skin surface, and can be moved backwards and forwards in a longitudinal direction.
 21. Instrument according to claim 10, wherein the rod-shaped part (2) incorporates a round, oval, or rounded edge cross-section.
 22. Instrument according to claim 11, wherein the rod-shaped part (2) incorporates a round, oval, or rounded edge cross-section.
 23. Instrument according to claim 12, wherein the rod-shaped part (2) incorporates a round, oval, or rounded edge cross-section.
 24. Instrument according to claim 13, wherein the rod-shaped part (2) incorporates a round, oval, or rounded edge cross-section.
 25. Instrument according to claim 14, wherein the rod-shaped part (2) incorporates a round, oval, or rounded edge cross-section.
 26. Instrument according to claim 15, wherein the rod-shaped part (2) incorporates a round, oval, or rounded edge cross-section. 